Turkey hunted a new spot this morning. The woods were literally echoing with at least 6 gobblers all around me in different directions, right at dawn. Had a jake come in at 45 yards. Still got 2 more weekends after this one two fill my second tag or I would have popped him. Looking for another mature Tom. Had a few hens poking around as well. Mosquitos were absolutely hellacious this morning so after about a half-hour of sitting against a cedar tree getting swarmed by mosquitos, I got up and got moving around through the woods, a little spot-n-stalk. Walked up to within 20 yards of some elk before they busted me. No turkeys were harmed in the making of this hunt. Trying to decide between a turkey hunt or bear hunt tomorrow morning. Leaning towards the turkey since I have until the end of June to fill my bear tag.

"You have to be smarter than the dog to train it.""A working dog is a happy dog.""Semper Fi" HQ/11th"Chukar: The first time you hunt them it's for sport. After that it's revenge."

When I did hunt turkeys, which had been several years ago now, I harvested just as many birds stalking as I did over decoys and calling. Our rolling hills here and natural choke points made it very efficient. Very very few gobblers to be found these days here in my neck of the woods. Looks like the overall population here in Georgia is on the decline.

Luck runs in cycles and I am on the upswing at the moment. Have called 5 mature gobblers to the gun within 20 yards in 4 hours of hunting across 3 days so far. I have offered to let others rub my Bald head for luck.

3 of those were Eastern Gobblers in Missouri where my preseason scouting put me in great spots to work birds to a call off the roost. Which does not always work and that is where the run of good luck comes in.

The two SD Merriams I took were gullible. I called in and took the beautiful white rump bird first, stashed it and continued hunting. Two hours later I called in two big strutting Toms to within 15 yards and filled my second tag, after striking them up a qtr of a mile away and across a river. They answered sparingly for awhile, then started jumping on the call, then started moving towards the call, then moving quickly and jumping on every call. Heard them drumming before they showed up coming in from behind me over left shoulder.

On pressured Eastern Gobblers I will take scouting, followed by setting up and calling in the right spot every time over trying to sneak up on one our birds. Particularly this season when the woods have yet to leave out. Besides being more effective I like the intensity of a bird working into range to a call. Similar to calling ducks vs jumping shooting ducks for me.

First ever turkey. First ever critter with a bow. Solo, making it up as I go.

Used my out of tune goose call to get a shock gobble, crested two ridges to get close, set up my mini panel blind, and gave 4 series of yelps. He came in on a line over 300 yards. Took some contortion to draw back behind a 30 inch blind. Luckily he quartered away enough to let me take my time.

Wasn't confident in a head shot at 20 yards, but it seems my shot placement worked.